Accenture and SAP Japan Fully Launch Program to Transform Conventional Core System Implementation Approaches
Accenture and SAP Japan are fully launching a new program to reduce the investment scale and implementation period for enterprise core system introductions. This initiative aims to accelerate the transformation speed of Japanese companies by rethinking traditional long-term, large-scale system renovation processes, with a focus on AI-driven operations.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 24, 2026 at 20:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 24, 2026 at 11:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 25, 2026 at 03:09 (15h 37m after Collected)
[Tokyo, April 24, 2026] Accenture Japan Ltd. (hereinafter, Accenture) and SAP Japan Co., Ltd. (hereinafter, SAP Japan) are fully launching a new program to reduce the investment scale and implementation period for enterprise core system implementations. The program aims to fundamentally rethink the conventional approach to core system refreshes, which tend to be long-term and large-scale, with the premise of evolving to AI-driven operations, thereby accelerating the pace of transformation for Japanese companies. This program is being rolled out in the Japanese market as part of both companies' global "ADVANCE" program.
In recent years, while AI is increasingly integrated into the core of corporate activities and operations, many companies have continued to experience a structure where investments swell and implementation periods lengthen due to custom-building core systems to meet operational demands (layering add-ons). However, in a world where AI makes decisions, processes, and autonomously operates tasks, the traditional approach of building up "customizations based on human operation" can become a bottleneck to transformation. What is now required is a paradigm shift: focusing on the minimum necessary requirements and data for management decisions and AI-driven operations, deploying systems in a short period, and reallocating the generated investment capacity and time to business process reengineering (BPR) and AI utilization.
Core system implementation is positioned not merely as an IT project, but as a transformation that integrates management, operations, and execution. From the initial stages of implementation, business process reengineering (BPR), change management, and operational design are integrated, designed, and promoted, enabling transformation that anticipates value creation after go-live, realized in a short period. Indispensable for this realization are five elements that function as a single entity: human resources, organizational collaboration, standardized business processes, reliable data that AI can leverage, and a robust system infrastructure that supports them. This aims to break away from excessive investment and long-term projects in core systems, enabling the reallocation of generated investment capacity and time to BPR and AI utilization.
**Features of this Program**
- **AI-Driven Implementation Approach Design**
Focuses on the essential requirements and data for management decisions and AI operations, shifting from the traditional add-on premise. Core systems are quickly established as a "foundational platform" for AI value creation.
- **Implementation Centered on Standard Processes Leveraging SAP's Cloud Technology**
Utilizing SAP® Cloud ERP as the core, along with SAP® Business Technology Platform, SAP® Business Data Cloud, etc., to promote implementation that maximizes standard processes. This suppresses the tendency for complex constructions and achieves a reduction in investment scale and implementation period.
- **End-to-End Transformation Promotion Including Business Process Reengineering and Operational Design**
Combines Accenture's knowledge in business process reengineering (BPR), change management, and operational design with SAP's BTM (Business Transformation Management) to provide integrated support from concept formulation to implementation, stabilization after go-live, and value creation.
- **Updating Implementation Processes Based on AI Utilization**
Promotes automation and labor-saving for repetitive tasks by utilizing AI technology and SAP Integrated Toolchain in testing, verification, and migration work. This aims to improve the efficiency of the entire implementation process while ensuring quality.
- **Strengthening Execution System in the Japanese Market**
Accenture boasts approximately 1,200 certified technicians in SAP's public cloud domain, the highest number in Japan. Under a dedicated system in collaboration with SAP Japan, it supports rapid implementation and continuous evolution regardless of industry or scale.
**Comment from Dai Hamaoka, Representative Director and President, Accenture Japan Ltd.**
In an era where AI plays a central role in operations, the speed of corporate transformation depends on how quickly and efficiently core systems can be launched. This program is an initiative to compress investment and time, creating a state where companies can reallocate resources to business transformation and AI utilization. Accenture's "Reinvention Service" aims to design and implement management, operations, data, and execution as an integrated whole, without fragmentation. We will work with SAP Japan to support the transformation of Japanese companies from an execution perspective.
**Comment from Yoshiaki Horikawa, Representative Director and President, SAP Japan Co., Ltd.**
We are greatly honored to be able to offer new cloud services utilizing SAP's public cloud to customers across a wide range of industries and scales through further collaboration with Accenture. This initiative has created an environment where businesses of all sizes can rapidly adopt business foundations leveraging advanced technologies, including generative AI. By integrating SAP's cloud technology with Accenture's deep expertise in business transformation, we aim to enhance the decision-making capabilities and operational efficiency of Japanese companies.
In recent years, while AI is increasingly integrated into the core of corporate activities and operations, many companies have continued to experience a structure where investments swell and implementation periods lengthen due to custom-building core systems to meet operational demands (layering add-ons). However, in a world where AI makes decisions, processes, and autonomously operates tasks, the traditional approach of building up "customizations based on human operation" can become a bottleneck to transformation. What is now required is a paradigm shift: focusing on the minimum necessary requirements and data for management decisions and AI-driven operations, deploying systems in a short period, and reallocating the generated investment capacity and time to business process reengineering (BPR) and AI utilization.
Core system implementation is positioned not merely as an IT project, but as a transformation that integrates management, operations, and execution. From the initial stages of implementation, business process reengineering (BPR), change management, and operational design are integrated, designed, and promoted, enabling transformation that anticipates value creation after go-live, realized in a short period. Indispensable for this realization are five elements that function as a single entity: human resources, organizational collaboration, standardized business processes, reliable data that AI can leverage, and a robust system infrastructure that supports them. This aims to break away from excessive investment and long-term projects in core systems, enabling the reallocation of generated investment capacity and time to BPR and AI utilization.
**Features of this Program**
- **AI-Driven Implementation Approach Design**
Focuses on the essential requirements and data for management decisions and AI operations, shifting from the traditional add-on premise. Core systems are quickly established as a "foundational platform" for AI value creation.
- **Implementation Centered on Standard Processes Leveraging SAP's Cloud Technology**
Utilizing SAP® Cloud ERP as the core, along with SAP® Business Technology Platform, SAP® Business Data Cloud, etc., to promote implementation that maximizes standard processes. This suppresses the tendency for complex constructions and achieves a reduction in investment scale and implementation period.
- **End-to-End Transformation Promotion Including Business Process Reengineering and Operational Design**
Combines Accenture's knowledge in business process reengineering (BPR), change management, and operational design with SAP's BTM (Business Transformation Management) to provide integrated support from concept formulation to implementation, stabilization after go-live, and value creation.
- **Updating Implementation Processes Based on AI Utilization**
Promotes automation and labor-saving for repetitive tasks by utilizing AI technology and SAP Integrated Toolchain in testing, verification, and migration work. This aims to improve the efficiency of the entire implementation process while ensuring quality.
- **Strengthening Execution System in the Japanese Market**
Accenture boasts approximately 1,200 certified technicians in SAP's public cloud domain, the highest number in Japan. Under a dedicated system in collaboration with SAP Japan, it supports rapid implementation and continuous evolution regardless of industry or scale.
**Comment from Dai Hamaoka, Representative Director and President, Accenture Japan Ltd.**
In an era where AI plays a central role in operations, the speed of corporate transformation depends on how quickly and efficiently core systems can be launched. This program is an initiative to compress investment and time, creating a state where companies can reallocate resources to business transformation and AI utilization. Accenture's "Reinvention Service" aims to design and implement management, operations, data, and execution as an integrated whole, without fragmentation. We will work with SAP Japan to support the transformation of Japanese companies from an execution perspective.
**Comment from Yoshiaki Horikawa, Representative Director and President, SAP Japan Co., Ltd.**
We are greatly honored to be able to offer new cloud services utilizing SAP's public cloud to customers across a wide range of industries and scales through further collaboration with Accenture. This initiative has created an environment where businesses of all sizes can rapidly adopt business foundations leveraging advanced technologies, including generative AI. By integrating SAP's cloud technology with Accenture's deep expertise in business transformation, we aim to enhance the decision-making capabilities and operational efficiency of Japanese companies.